Dirt moving machine



cf- 7, 1941- G. A. vAuGHN l:DIRT MOVING MACHINE 4 sneets-sheet 1 FiledNov. 14, 1939 G. A. VAUGHN DIRT MOVING MACHINE Oct. 7, 1941.

Filed Nov. 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J EL /z 8 6 Ill ll 76, Ill J I /0 IlNvENToR 7 4Oct. 7, 1941. G A VAUGHN 2,257,992

DIRT MovING MACHINE Filed Nov. 14, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 i i l s I l lOct. 7, 1941. G. A. vAuGHN DIRT MOVING MACHINE Filed Nowi. 14, 1939 4Sheets-Sheet 4 mm/Wow Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITED s'rATl-: sa PATENT.oFFlcF.I

DIET MOVING MACHINE George A. Vaughn, Newton, Iowa, aSsignor, by mesneassignments, to Koehring Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a'corporation ofWisconsin Application November 14, 1939, Serial No. 304,427

. does so suddenly, imposing severe strains on the 15 Claims.

This invention appertains to dirt moving machines or scrapers of themobile load-carrying type which are used in road building or for suchother grading or moving purposes where the ground is to be levelled of!by scraping and the loosened material transported to a convenient placeof deposit. More especially, my invention has to do with that type ofscraping apparatus.

ing position.

In the past, considerable diiculty has been experienced with suchmachines in the field. particularly from the standpoint of the abilityof the scraper to withstand the loads and stresses imposed upon the samewhen in use, and the provision of a practical and efflcient means forcontrolling the pivotal movement of the rear apron or load-carryingmember in restoring the: apron to loading position after dumping of theload. Perhaps the most troublesome defect results from the tendency ofthe dirt to jam the apron pivot or hinge and become so tightly packedaround the pivot as to bend or distort the pivotal connection by forcingthe apron away from the cutter blade, thereby rendering the aproninoperative and sometimes necessitating that the packed dirt be actuallychipped away at the hinge, and some of the parts repaired or replacedbefore the machine can be further used.

Another common source of trouble results from the tendency of the dirtto pile up in front of the main frame at the sides thereof, thusinterfering with the scraping yaction of the flxed blade,

v 'and sometimes preventing the blade from penetrating the ground to thedesired depth, or causmachine, and tends to bite too deeply and roll thegumbo onto the apron or carrier in one solid lump, or, in comparativelyfew lumps which reunite, especially if the gumbo is relatively wet.

Dumping of the material then becomes impossible, or can at best beaccomplished only with the greatest difilculty.

One of the primary objects of the present mvention is to provide amaterially improved and more efflcient assemblage of .flxed scraper orcutter blade and associated pivoted apron or load carrier for machinesof the character referred toat the commencement hereof, the same beingmore rugged than formerly to better withstand the strains of service,and more easily manufactured, assembled, and disassembled.

The scraper or cutter* blade is preferably mounted upon a cutter bar ofspecial unitary construction which is removably attached to the mainframe of the machine, and, when attached. becomes a rigid part thereof.p A

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel colterarrangement in association with the cutter bar and fl'xed blade, thesame serving to make a clean cut at theopposite extremities of theblade, and to efi'ectively direct the dirt into and onto the rear apronor load carrier without interfering with the forward end of the frameand the travel thereof.

Still another primary object of the invention is to provide an improvedpivotal or hinge connection for the rear apron or load carrier whicheifectively prevents jamming or distoration of the hinge, and which issubstantially self-cleaning, easy to operate, and unusually strong andrugged.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel lump breaking orcutting instrumentalities in association with the pivotal rear apron orload carrier, the same being so constructed and arranged as to bemovable relative to -the flxed cutter blade or scraper to facilitatedumping of the load, especially in the handling of soils, such as gumbo.

The invention additionally contemplates the provision of a novel controlmeans for the pivotal rear apron or load carrier, whereby to yieldablyinitiate restoration of the apron to its normal load-carrying positionafter dumping, and which also preferably cushions the return movement ofthe apron after dumping and aids in the initiation of the dumpingoperation.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will behereinafter described and the novel features thereof defined by theappended claims. v v

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a scraper or dirtmoving machine embodying the improved features which constitute myinvention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the parts shown in Figure1, on an enlarged scale, the parts being seen from below;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view in front elevatlon, and particularlyshowing a stepped arrangement of reversible cutter blades or scrapers,and the manner in which the same may be mounted on the cutter bar infront of the apron or load carrier and between the colters disposed atthe opposite sides of the main frame;

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken approximately on the line4-4 of Figure l, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the assemblage as seenfrom beneath;

Figure 6 is a vertical iongitudinal sectional view taken about on theline t-G of Figure 3, iooking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken about on the line 'i-'iof Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows, and particularlyiliustrating the pivotal or hinge connection between the rear apron orload carrier and the supporting frame;

Figure 8 is a 'fragmentary top plan view showing one form of lumpbreaking or gumbo cutting instrumentality in association with the rearapron or load carrier, the same being mounted on the apron adjacent tothe forward hlnged end;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary detail view generally similar to Figure 8,showing the parts in front elevation;

Figure 10 is a vertical longitudlnal sectional view taken through therear apron and associated flxed cutter bar and blade assembly, andparticularly illustrating one form of control means which serves toyieldably initiate the return movement of the apron after dumping, theapron being shown in full lines in its normal load-carrying position,and in broken lines in different stages of its movement towards or awayfrom the dumping position; and

Figure ll is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken at the rear ofthe pivotal axis of the apron or load carrier and looking towards theaxis so as to illustrate the manner of attachment of the flxed end ofthe control means, which control means is shown in the form of a flatleaf spring.

, Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the severalfigures of the drawings which show only those parts of the scraper ordirt-moving machine which are necessary to an understanding of myinvention. The main frame is generally designated l, and includeslaterally spaced side members, each of which may be composed of a pairof spaced frame plates 2, 2, as best seen in Figure 4. It is to beunderstood that this frame usually forms a part of a wheeled structurewhich is propelled by power applied to the same by any suitable powerplant forming a unitary part of the machine or otherwise associatedtherewlth. The construction of the main frame I and the propellingapparatus may take various forms, and the details thereof have not beendisclosed herein for the reason that they will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art. It will sumce to sayl that the main frame l isbodily movable from a position relatively close to the ground, suchpositionl being assumed during a scraping or loading operation, to amore elevated position a suitable distance abcve the ground to aflordsufflcient clearance in transporting the load, and to facilitate dumpingof the load. As with the usual machines of this type, there is providedan apron or load carrier, generally designated 3, Which is positionedbetween the spaced side members i, i of the main'frame, the apron beingsupported by the main frame and hingedly or pivotally connected theretoso as to be movable in a generally vertical plane. As best shown inFigure .10, the apron 3 extends rearwardly from a point near the frontof the main frame, and is preferably curved upwardly towards the rearthereof to facilitate loading and dumping of the apron in a manner whichwill hereinafter become apparent.

Attached, as by welding, to the lower extremities of the plates 2, 2,which make up each of the laterally spaced main frame members i, i, is abar ii, shown clearly in Figures 4 and 7, this bar extending rearwardlyalong the lower edges of the respective side frame members. Attached toeach bar 4, as by a series of machine bolts 5, is an angle plate 8having one of its flanges 6' disposed horizontally and seated againstthe bottom of the bar 4,'and the other of its flanges 6" disposedsubstantially vertically and co-extensive with the inner plate 2 of theside member i of the main frame. At the for- Ward end of the side anglemember 6 which extends longitudinally beneath the respective sides i ofthe main frame, and terminates somewhat to the rear of the forward endof the main frame, the angle member is provided with a laterally offsetflange 6'", which serves as an attachment flange for a colter member,generally designated 1, the colter member being provided with acorresponding laterally oil'set flange 'i' through which the attachingmeans, such as the bolts 8, may be passed to secure the same to theflange 6'. Similarly, the colter is provided with a horizontal fiangealong its upper edge which is adapted to abut against the lower side ofthe bar 4, to which it may be attached in any suitable manner, as bymeans of the machine screws 5'. The colter member includes a dependingblade l'", which is curved forwardly and upwardly, as clearly shown inFigures l and 6, the blade being preferably sharpened at its forwardedge to more readily penetrate the ground and produce a clean cut. Thecolter blade 1"' is preferably arranged in forwardly diverging relationrespecting the longitudinal center of the machine, as will be best seenfrom reference to Figures l, 3 and 5. It will be understood that thereis a colter member 'I disposed at each side of the machine near theforward end of the main side frames I, I, and these colter members serveto cleanly cut the ground in advance of the transverse scraper bladewhich will now be described, and thus the colters act to direct the dirtbetween the side frame members, thereby preventing the dirt from pilingup in advance of the side frame members and interfering with thescraping action of the flxed scraper blade.

Disposed transversely between the opposite side angle members 6, 6 is anangle bar 9, hereinafter referred to as a cutter bar, the same beingsecured at its opposite ends to the respective side angle members 6, 6,as by welding, so as to become a aaszaea rigid and integrai partthereof. As best seen in Figure 6, the cutter bar I is arranged with itsapex uppermost, thus positioning one of its flanges 9' in a forwarddownwardly inclined p'osition, and the other of its flanges 9" in arearward downwardly inclined position. The flanges 9' Iand 9" arereenforced by welding a series of laterally spaced webs or plates 9"'thereto. The forward fiange 9' of the cutter bar serves as a seat towhich the cutter blades I0, I may be attached. If desired, asinglecutter blade may be employed, extending the full width of the machinebetween the side angle members 6, 6. I have found, however, that undersome circumstance's, a much more more improved cutting or scrapingaction can be attained through the use of a stepped arrangement ofcutter blades, as shown in Figure 3, in which the deepest blade I0' isdisposed in the center, and is iianked by two sh'allower blades Ill,III. On the other hand, the cutter blade may be composed of a pluralityof short blades, all of the same depth, and arranged end to end, ifpreferred. The cutter blades are preferably reversible, and while theymay be fixedly attached Ito the cutter bar in any suitable manner, Ipreferably employ the arrangement as clearly shown in Figures 1 to 3 and6. According to this arrangement, the shallow blades I0, IO are providedwith a double row of spaced apertures II adapted to be alined withcorrespondingly spaced apertures in the flange 9' of the cutter bar 9,and removable attaching bolts i2 are passed through the registeredapertures, preferably in a staggered arrangement, to firmly secure theblade to the cutter bar. The central deeper blade iii' is preferablyprovided with three rows of apertures II', two rows of which are adaptedto be registered with corresponding two rows of apertures in the flange9' of the cutter bar, to which the blade is attached by theremovablebolts I2'. The opposite edges of the respective cutter blades arebeveled to facilitate penetration of the ground, and as one edge becomesworn the blades may be reversed by simply removing the attaching boltsI2, I2', and reinserting the bolts through the registered apertures, asdescribed above. i

It will be understood from the foregoing that the cutter bar 9 andblades ID, I0' constitute a rigid assembly, and, since the cutter bar isunited with the opposite side angle members 6, 6, the entire assemblymay be removed from the machine as a unit, for purposes of repair orreplacement, by removing the bolts 5, 5'. The cotler members 'I, 'I maybe removed without disassembling the entire cutter bar unit, this beingaccomplished by removing the bolts 5' and 8. When these parts are fullyassembled on the machine, they efi'ectively brace the side frame membersI, I, and maintain the forward ends of the same in vthe desired spacedrelation to each other, while being movable vertically with the mainframe, when the latter is lowered, to condition the machine forIscraping action. and raised for transporting and dumping of the dirt.

The manner in which the apron or load carrier 3 is pivotally mountedbetween the side members I, I of the main frame will now be described.Disposed rearwardly of and in spaced relation to the cutter bar 9 is asomewhat smaller angle bar I3, clearly shown in Figure 6, the same beingarranged transversely between the side angle members 6, 6 and attachedthereto, as by welding. The angle member I3 occupies a positiongenerally corresponding to that of the cutter bar 9, so

that its flanges IB' and I3" lie substantially parallel to therespective flanges 9' and I of the cutter bar. A series of laterallyspaced webs or plates I 4 is preferably interposed between the anglemember l3 and the rear flange 9" of the cutter bar, these webs or platesbeing attached 'to the angle member I 3 and cutter bar in any suitablemanner, as by welding, and serving to reenforce and rigidify theassembly as a whole, and particularly the angle member I3. As clearlyshown in Figure 6, the forward flange I3' of the angle member I3 isdisposed substantially perpendicular to the rear flange 9 of the cutterbar, and forms therewith a substantially V-shaped pocket or seat whichis open at its bottom in a downward direction by virture of thetermination of the flange IS' in spaced relation to the fiange 9. ThisV-shaped pocket or seat serves as a hearing or hinge for the rear apron3, which is pivotal about a horizontal axis extending transversely ofthe machine close to the fixed transverse scraper or cutting blades. Theforward transverse edge of the apron is preferably turned downwardly toprovide a depending flange I' to which is attached an angle bar I5 inany suitable manner, as by means of a series of bolts II (see Figure 6).Welded or otherwise fixedly secured to the forwardedge of the angle barIi is a tube I'l which extends the full width of the apron 3, which isof such width as to bring its opposite marginal edges relatively closeto the inner sides of the side frame members I, I and the side anglemembers 6, 6. The tube ll normally rests in the V-shaped pocket or seatformed by the flanges I3' and 9 so as to bear thereon at opposite sidesand be supported thereby throughout its full length, the tube being freeto rotate inv the sea-t with a hingelike action to permit the apron orload carrier 3 to be rocked from its normal load-receiving orload-carrying position shown in full lines in Figures 6 and 10 to its,

dumping position shown in dotted lines in these figures. Extending intothe tube I at each of e its opposite ends is a pin l8 adapted to beinserted through an aperture formed in each of the side angle members 6,6 in registry with the tube. Each of these pins I8, which may be termedhinge pins or pintles, is provided with a plate I! Welded on the outerend thereof, the plate rbeing provided with one or more apertures toenable the same to be bolted or otherwise removably fastened to theoutside of the respective angle members 6, as by the bolts 20. The pinsIl, IB are prefenably slightly smaller in diameter than the innerdiameter of the tube I'I so as to afford suflicient clearance betweenthe same so that the tube will normally rest on its V-shaped seat. Thus,the pins I8, I8 are primarily intended to hold the apron in place,rather than to bear the weight of the apron and its load. By removingthe bolts 20 and withdrawing the pins I8, IB, the apron or load carrier3 may be easily removed from the machine.

Secured to the cutter bar 9, as by welding, at its upper side is ahardened steel plate ZI which is extended rearwardly towards the forwardend of the apron 3, in close proximity to the tube I'I. The rear edge ofthis plate is beveled so as to permit the dirt to freely and smoothlypass from the fixed cutter or scraper blades onto the apron or loadcarrier 3. Any dirt which may happen to enter between the plate 2I andthe tube I'I will be free'to pass around the tube I 'I next to thecutter bar 9, and thence downwardly through the space between the cutterbar 9 and the angle .frame at the rear thereof.

member l3, this being the principal reason for the spaced arrangement ofthese latter parts and the reenforcing webs or plates H. Thisconstruction is quite important as it afiords a more or lessself-cleaning action of the apron hinge. Packing of the dirt between thetube l'l and the cutter bar is thus prevented, particularly having inmind that the clearance between the inside of the tube i'l and the hingepins IS, IG will allow the tube ll and apron 3 to move slightly awayfrom the cutter bar to permit the dirt to pass therebetween and drop outat the bottom without packing. This minimizes jamming of the apron orload carrier and possible consequent distortion or damage of the hinge.

To further reenforce and brace the structure hereinbefore described, Ipreferably provide a plurality of laterally spaced struts or braces 22,having their forward ends suitably secured to the rear of the cutter barassembly, and their rear ends secured to a convenient part of the mainOne convenient form of attaching means for the forward ends of therespective struts 22 is shown in Figures 4 to 6, wherein 23 designates arelatively short angle bar having one of its flanges 23' disposedvertically, and the other of its fianges 23 disposed horizontally, thelatter flange being welded at 24 to the bottom of the angle bar H3, andat 25 to the fiange S of the cutter bar. A horizontal plate or web 26 iswelded between the vertical flange 23' and the rear flange l3" of theangle bar H3. Attached to the forward extremity of each strut 22 is ashort angle bar 21, which extends laterally therefrom at opposite sidesthereof, and is provided with suitable apertures to receive attachingbolts 28 which are passed through the same and through correspondingapertures in the vertical fiange of the angle bar 23. The bolts 28 mustbe removed before the cutter bar assembly is disassembled from themachine, when such occasion arises. Likewise, the hinge pins H0, IB mustalso be removed when it is desired to disconnect the cutter bar from themachine.

Referring now particularly to Figures 6, 8 and 9, I have shown suitableinstrumentalities for breaking up clods or lumps of dirt as they passonto the apron or load carrier 3, these instrumentalities beingespecially useful in handling gumbo. The instrumentalities preferablycomprise a series of laterally spaced knives or cutting blades 29, 29,each of which is arranged in a generally upright position and providedwith a forward cutting edge 29'. Each knife or blade may be welded orotherwise Secured to a base plate or block 30, which is, in turn,preferably secured by welding or suitable fastening devices l2" to theangle bar l and forward end of the apron 3 in a manner to position theblades 29 just back of the hinge tube ll. In such an arrangement, thecutters or blades 29 are movable with a verticallyswinging motionresponsive to the swinging movement of the apron or load carrier 3. Thisresults in the distinct advantage that, upon dumping the load from theapron, the cutting blade or knives 29 may be effectively used to breakup any lumps or solid chunks which may tend to clog the dischargeopening at the front of the machine, such action being accomplished byimparting to the apron or load carrier a series of alternate tiltingmovements in opposite directions near the upper limit of its dumpingmovement. When the machine is in the act of being loaded, the cutters orknives 29 break up the lumps or large chunks of dirt, and, in the caseof assmes gumbo, slice the gumbo so that it will not roll onto the apronin one solid piece. The curvature of the apron itself furthercontributes to the breaking up of the dirt during the loading action,eflectively distributing the load, so that maximum loading will beassured.

Referring now to Figures 10 and 11, I preferably provide a means forcontrolling the tilting movement of the apron or load carrier 3, sothat, after dumping, the control means is eflective to initiate thedownward movement of the apron and restoration of the same to its normalloadcarrying position. The control means has been illustrated in theform of a flat leaf spring SH, which is fixed at one end in any suitablemanner and operatively connected with the apron 3 at its free end. Amultiple leaf spring may be used instead of the single leaf illustratedin the drawings, where the forces involved are great enough to require astronger spring. Also, a plurality of springs arranged in laterallyspaced relation to each other may be used where such an arrangement isfound to be convenient.

As shown, the fixed end of the spring 3! is attached by a bolt 32 to abracket 33 formed from a flat blank having its ends bent upwardly atright angles to the intermediate part of the blank, and forming sidewalls of generally triangular shape between which the forward end of theleaf spring may be disposed in flat engagement with the bottom of thebracket. The bracket 33 is preferably welded or otherwise fixed to theangle bar l3 so as to become a rigid and integral part of the cutter barassembly. The free or rear end of the spring 3l is loosely engagedwithin a U-shaped clip 34, which is attached directly, as by weldlng, tothe bottom of the apron 3, or to a transverse reenforcing channel orbrace 35 welded to the bottom of the apron, as shown in the drawings. Asthe apron is swung upwardly from its loading or load-carrying position,shown in full lines in Figure l0, towards the dumping positionrepresented by the upper broken lines in this figure, the spring 3l isfree to slide in the clip 34 while permitting the spring to flex, andthus exerting a yieldable pull on the apron in a counter-clockwisedirection, as viewed in Figure 10. Thus, if the upper end of the apron(which is broken away and not shown in the drawings) assumes a positionduring the dumping action which throws the center of gravity of theapron beyond the pivotal axis ,(or to the right of the hinge in Figure10), or the apron otherwise does not tend to move downwardly by its ownweight after dumping, the spring will automatically urge the apron backdownwardly toward its normal position as soon as the lifting force,usually applied to the apron by a cable, is relieved. The spring 3| alsoacts -as a cushion to check the fall of the apron and absorb at least aportion of the shock as it reaches its normal position. It is to benoted from Figure 10 that, when the apron is in its normal full lineposition, the spring 3! is flexed downwardly below its relaxed orunstressed position which occurs at an intermediate position in themovement of the apron, as shown also by broken lines in Figure 10, sothat the spring tends to aid in lifting the apron and its load at thecommencement of the dumping operation.

While the specific details have been hereln shown and described, myinvention is not confined thereto, as changes and alterations may bemade without departing from the spirit thereof as defined by theappended claims.

aasmos vblade extending transversely between the side walls anddepending below the same, and a loadcarrying apron carried by the mainframe and disposed rearwardly of the cutter bar and blade,

the lsaid detachable connecting means for the cutter bar including apair of opposed angular plates, each having one of its flanges disposedgenerally vertically and co-extensive with one of the side walls of themain frame at the bottom of the latter, and to which the opposite endsof the cutter bar are respectively rigidly united, and another flangedisposed generally horizontally and extending laterally outwardly fromthe vertical flange for detachable engagement with the lower edges ofthe respective side walls, and fastening means for securing thelast-mentioned flange to its side wall of the frame.

2. In apparatus of the class described, a main' frame including spacedside walls adapted to be moved in a generally upward and downwarddirection, a fixed cutter bar having a forwardly and downwardly inclinedsurface, a cutter blade secured to the inclined surface aforesaid, meansfor detachably connecting the opposite ends of .the cutter bar to therespective walls of the main frame .near their forward ends, with thecutter blade extending transversely between the side walls and dependingbelow the same, and a loadcarrying apron carried by, the main frame anddisposed rearwardly of the cutter bar and blade, the said detachableconnecting means for' the cutter bar including a pair of opposed angularplates, each having one of its flanges disposed generally vertically andco-extensive with one of the side walls of the main frame at the bottomof the latter, and to which the opposite ends of the .cutter bar arerespectively rigidly united, and

another flange disposed generally horizontally and extending laterallyoutwardly from the vertical flange for detachable engagement with thelower edges'of the respective side walls, and fastening means forsecuring the last-mentioned flange to its side wall of the frame, incombination with a colter disposed in advance of the cutter bar andblade at each side of the main frame and detachably connected totheframe and to the respective angular connecting plates aforesaid so asto be removable with and independently of the cutter bar.

3. In apparatus of the class described, a main frame including spacedside walls, a fixed cutter har disposed transversely between thel sidewalls of the main frame near their forward ends and rigidly connectedthereto, a cutter blade carried by the cutter bar, and a load-carryingand dumping apron hingedly mounted] between the side walls of the mainframe at the rear of the cutter bar and adjacent thereto for Swingingmovement in an upward and downward direction, said apron including ahinge member extending transversely across its forward edge parallel toand normally in bearing engagement with the cutter bar, but havinglimited movement away from the cutter bar to afford a self-cleaningaction.

4. In apparatus of the class described, a main frame including spacedside walls, a fixed cutter bar disposed transversely between the sidewalls of the main frame near their forward ends and rigidly connectedthereto. a cutter blade car. ried by the cutter bar, a load-carrying anddumping apron hlngedly mounted between theside walls of the main frameat the rear of the cutter bar and adjacent thereto for swinging movementin an upward and downward direction, said apron including a hinge memberextending transversely across its' forward edge parallel to and normallyin hearing engagement with the cutter bar, but having limited movementaway from the cutter bar to aiford a self-cleaning action, and means forholding the hinge member aforesaid in place and limiting the movement ofthe same away from the cutter bar.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the hinge member comprises atube, and the holding means comprises a pair of pin members fixed totherespective side' walls of the main frame and projecting into theopposite end of the tube, said pin members being slightly smaller thanthe tube to aflord clearance therebetween to permit limited movementiofthe tube towards and away from the cutter bar responsive to theself-cleaningaction of the hinge.

6. In apparatus of the class described, -a main frame including spacedsideflwals, a fixed cutter bar and blade assembly rigidly attached Vtothe side walls of the main frame near their forward ends and having agenerally V-shaped hearing seat extending thereacross, said seat beingopen at the bottom in a downward direction, and a load-carrying anddumping apron hingedly mounted between the side walls of the main frameat the rear of the vcutter bar and adjacent thereto for Swingingmovement in an upward and downward direction, said apron including ahinge member extendlng transversely across its forward edge and disposedin the V-shaped bearing seat aforesaid, but having limited movement awayfrom the hearing seat to aiford a self-I cleaning action.

7'. In apparatus of the class described, a main' frame including spacedside walls, a fixed cutter' bar and blade assembly rigidly attached tothe side walls of the main frame near their forward ends and extendingtransversely therebetween, said assembly including a pair of 'parallelangle bars arranged in spaced relation to each other to aiford clearancetherebetween, with their apexes uppermost, forming a transvrse generallyv-shaped hearing seat therebetween, a pivotal load-carrying and dumpingapron disposed between the side walls of the main frame at the rear ofthe cutter bar and blade assembly, and including a generally cylindricalbearing member extending transversely across the forward edge thereofand disposed in the hearing seat afores said, and means for holding saidhearing member in the seat while allowing limited movement thereof awayfrom the seat to aiford a self-cleaning hinge-like action in dumping theapron and restorlng the same to its load-receiving and carryingposition.

8. In apparatus of the class described, a main frame including spacedside walls, a flxed cutter blade extendlng transversely between the sidewalls near their forward ends and depending therebelow, a load-carryingand dumping apron pivotally mounted between said side walls at the rearof the cutter blade for movement in an upward and downward direction,and means for automatically initiating downward movement of pivotallymounted between the side walls at the rear of and adjacent to the cutterblade for swinging movement in an upward and downward direction, and aleaf spring having one end fixedly connected to the main frame and itsother end operatively engaged with the apron at a distance from itspivotal axis, said leaf spring being so arranged that it is normallyrelaxed or unstressed when the apron is in an intermediate positionbetween the upward and downward limits of its pivotal movement.

10. In apparatus of the character described, a main frame includingspaced side walls, a cutter bar having a scraping edge for use inscraping operations extending transversely between said side walls, andmeans for detachably connecting the opposite ends of the cutter bar tothe respective Walls Vof the frame comprising a pair of opposed angularplates, each having one of its flanges disposed generally vertically andcoextensive with one of the side walls of the main frame at the bottomof the latter, and to which the opposite ends of the cutter bar arerespectively rigidly united, and another flange disposed generallyhorizontally and extending laterally outwardly from the vertical flangefor detachable engagement with the lower edges of the respective sidewalls, and fastening means for securing the last-mentioned flange to itsside wall of the frame.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a main frame includingspaced side walls, a cutter bar having a scraping edge for use inscraping operations extending transversely between said side walls, acolter disposed in advance of the cutter bar and its scrapng edge ateach side of the main frame, and means for detachably connecting theopposite ends of the cutter bar to the respective walls of the framecomprising a pair of opposed angular plates, each having one of itsflanges disposed generally vertically and co-extensive with one of theside vwalls of the main frame at the bottom of the of the cutter bar.

12. In apparatus of the character described, a

main frame including spaced side walls, a cutter bar having a scrapingedge for use in scraping operations extending tranversely between saidside walls, means for detachably connecting the opposite ends of thecutter bar to the respective walls of the frame, a colter disposed inadvance of the cutter bar and its scraping edge at each side of the mainframe, and means detachably connecting said colters to said cutter barand the main frame so as to be removable from the. main frame with andindependently of the cutter har.

13. In apparatus of the class described, a main frame including spacedside walls, a flxed cutter bar and blade assembly rigidly attached tothe side walls of the main frame near their forward ends and extendingtransversely therebetween, an apron disposed between the side walls ofthe main frame at the rear of the cutter bar and blade assembly, meanshingedly connecting said apron adjacent said cutter bar for verticalpivotal movement between a lower load receiving position and an upperdumping position, and dirt cutting and breaking instrumentalitiescomprising a plurality of laterally spaced cutter blades mounted on saidapron adjacent its hinge and upstanding from the forward end of theapron with their edges presented forwardly, said blades being movablewith said apron to cut and break masses of earth adjacent said hingetending to prevent movement of dirt from said apron as the same is movedvertically to dumping position.

14. In apparatus of the class described, a main frame including spacedside walls, a cutter blade at the lower front portion of the side wallsextending transversely therebetween and attached thereto, an apronpivotally connected at its front edge to the side walls adjacent thecutter blade, said apron being pivotally movable between a lower loadreceiving position and an upper dumping position, and resilient meansconnected to said main frame and said apron, said resilient means beingadapted to resist movement of said apron towards either its dumping orload receiving positions and to be placed under tension as the apronapproaches such positions for assisting in the movement of the apronfrom such positions.

15. In apparatus of the class described, a main frame including spacedside walls, a cutter blade at the lower front portion of the side wallsextending transversely therebetween and attached thereto, an apronpivotally connected at its front edge to the side walls adjacent thecutter blade; said apron being pivotally movable between a lower loadreceiving position and an upper dumping position, a leaf spring securedat one end to said main frame, and means connecting the other end ofsaid spring to said apron for movement therewith, said connecting meanspermitting sliding movement of said'spring with respect thereto as saidapron is moved between its upper and lower positions.

GEORGE A. VAUGHN.

